I slowly opened my eyes, looking around my bedroom. It was just before noon, and from the noises outside my room, there seemed to be pandemonium about an opera's score. I slowly sat up, rubbing my eyes just as there was a knock on my door.

"Christine, darling," said an all too familiar voice. "Are you awake? We have to meet with Andre and Firmin."

I smiled softly, getting up out of my bed and pulling my robe on, opening the door just enough to sneak a quick kiss to Raoul. "I just woke up," I replied softly. "Give me a few minutes to get dressed, and I'll meet you at the office."

"Please, hurry. They are getting impatient as it is."

I nodded again, shutting the door and quickly dressing in a beautiful blue gown, grabbing the score for Don Juan, before I ventured out of my room. I walked calmly to the office of Andre and Firmin, seeing Raoul there, waiting outside the door just as he said he would be. He gave me another sweet kiss, stroking my cheek softly as he did so.

"Raoul," I said softly, leaning my head slightly into his touch. "Aren't we already late as it is?"

"Yes, darling, we are," he said with a small smile, opening the door to the office, escorting me inside. Inside the office were not only Andre and Firmin, but Madame Giry, Carlotta, and Piangi. I looked at Raoul curiously, wondering what was happening.

"Ah, look, it's our little star," Carlotta declared, standing beside Piangi with her hands on her hips. "It's about time that you got here. We have been waiting over two hours for you."

Raoul gave her a smug look while he set me in a chair, moving around to stand where everyone could see him.

We have all been blind, and yet the answer is staring us in the face. This could be the chance to ensnare our clever friend.

Andre and Firmin looked at each other, and then back at Raoul. We're listening! Go on!

We shall play his game, perform his work but remember we hold the ace. For if Miss Daae sings, he is certain to attend.

I looked at them all, feeling like a piece of meat that was just being used to trap the Phantom so the police could capture him. Just then, Andre and Firmin shook their hands with Raoul and declared that the doors would be barred; the police would be there and armed.

The curtain will fall, and his reign will end, all three of them declared as I stood up from my chair. Everyone turned to look at me, waiting for me to say something.

"I can't. I won't do it," I said simply, holding the score in my hands.

"Then I will take her part," Carlotta said simply and defiantly, yanking the score from my hands.

"Christine, you have to do it," Raoul said simply, taking the score back from Carlotta and handing it back to me. "We need you."

"Don't you see that this is madness," Madame Giry finally injected, angry and frustrated that they were not only trying to contest the Phantom, but capture him as well. "He is cleverer than you think!"

"Then help us! Instead of warning us, help us!"

"Monsieur, I can't!"

Just then, arguments began to emerge from everywhere in the room. Carlotta and Piangi ganged up on me, while Raoul and Madame Giry were arguing along with Andre and Firmin. The arguing sounded like an orchestra that couldn't blend together to make a simple melody. Between Carlotta and Piangi yelling at me in both English and Italian, I couldn't get a word in edgewise. The voices continued to rise from everyone, each of them becoming more shrill and frustrated with each passing moment. I put my hands to my ears, letting out a loud frustrated scream of a single word.

"Enough!"

Raoul turned around, along with Andre, Firmin, and Madame Giry. I pushed through Carlotta and Piangi and latched myself onto Raoul, tears streaming down my face. He moved me down to the chair that I was previously sitting in as I began to plead with him, clutching on the lapels of his jacket.

Raoul, I'm frightened! Don't make me do this! It scares me…don't put me through this ordeal by fire. He'll take me! I know! We'll be parted forever! He won't let me go!

What I once used to dream I now dread. If he finds me it won't ever end, and he'll always be there singing songs in my head. He'll always be there singing songs in my head…

I let out a fearful sob as Raoul wiped my tears away. Everyone had their eyes on me, but Carlotta was the only one to speak what everyone else, with the exception of Madame Giry was thinking.

"She's mad."

Raoul looked at me comfortingly, stroking my cheek with his hand, and continuing to wipe my tears away as he spoke next. You said yourself he was nothing but a man. Yet while he lives, he will haunt us till we're dead…

I let out a shaky breath, looking at the score once again, and teardrops falling upon it, smearing the ink. Twisted every way, what answer can I give? Am I to risk my life to win the chance to live? Can I betray the man who once inspired my voice? Do I become his prey? Do I have any choice? He kills without a thought; he murders all that's good! I know I can't refuse, and yet, I wish I could. Oh, God, if I agree what horrors wait for me in this, the Phantom's opera?

Raoul continued to comfort me, Andre and Firmin coming over to me, standing behind the chair. Raoul leaned in close, kissing my cheek softly. Christine, Christine, don't think that I don't care. But every hope and every prayer rests on you now…

The next sound that flooded my ears was Andre and Firmin, begging me to stay in the part. Carlotta and Piangi began to join in as well, while Madame Giry was trying to get me away from all of them. I finally stood up, and ran out of the office, sobbing.

"I can't!"

The last thing that I heard was Raoul shouting in the office, declaring war upon the Phantom and his actions upon the opera house. I ran back to my room, continuing to sob as I slammed my door, throwing myself upon the bed. I laid there for a while. No more than an hour later, Madame Giry came into my room, shutting the door softly behind her. She came over to my bed, sitting upon it, stroking my hair softly. She was comforting me, just as she would with Meg, her own daughter. I let out a low sniffle, not bringing my head up to look at her.

"I do blame you for being upset, Christine," she spoke softly, still stroking my hair, moving her hands to fix it. "I imagine that you're feeling very conflicted right now."

"You have no idea," I replied, muffled into the pillow, letting her fix my hair as she wanted. "I just do not know what to do, Madame Giry. I can't betray him, but I want the part."

"You just need some time to think. Rehearsals will begin in a couple of days," she said as she pulled me up, cleaning my face with a damp cloth and applying just a touch of make-up to my face. "Go reflect on your choices. You're a star, and I have faith in you. Yes, there is the chance of danger, but we have had more brushes with danger in this opera house than you know."

"He wants me to return to him. I do not know if I can."

"Ultimately, the choice is yours, Christine," she said, handing me my cloak. "I think it would help if you went to the cemetery, visit your father's grave."

I looked up at her, my eyes wide. "But…we're not allowed to leave the grounds."

Madame Giry gave me a kind smile, helping me to stand as I put my cloak. "I won't tell a soul. And technically, you only need my permission to go out, and I'm giving it to you."

"Thank you, Madame," I said softly, giving her a hug. She embraced me, and pulled the hood of my cloak on my head.

"Take the back stairs. No one will see you then."

I nodded, leaving my room and shutting the door quietly. I moved quickly down the back stairs of the opera house, pushing past doormen and stage hands as my feet began to fly, heading out of the stage door. As I made my way out to the street, it had begun to snow. The ground and sidewalks were already covered, so it was pretty to see the city of Paris glistening from what little daylight there was left. I looked around, spotting a carriage across the street from the opera house. I looked around, and then trotted lightly across the street. The driver was sitting in his seat, still and quiet. It seemed like he didn't even notice I was there. The hood of his cloak was up, sheltering his face and head from the falling snow.

"Excuse me, are you waiting for someone," I asked quietly before I could get into the carriage.

"No, mademoiselle, I am waiting for no one."

I handed him a satchel of a few gold coins. "Would you take me to the cemetery, please," I asked, still holding the satchel in my hand, waiting for him to take it. He looked at me for a brief moment, then the satchel before he spoke again.

"Keep your money, mademoiselle, and just get into the carriage."

"But, sir, I –"

"Either you get in now, or I leave you here," he said in a demanding tone. Not saying anything more, I quickly climbed back into the carriage, sliding my satchel back into my pocket. The carriage began to move with a quick jerk, heading outside of the city towards the city. Has we moved, I thought about my father, and what he would think about what was happening to me now. I knew that he would be happy that I had found a good man like Raoul. But what of my teacher, my Angel, my Phantom? Would he be happy that I was receiving voice lessons from this amazing man with such amazing talent? Or would he be disappointed because of the choices that I had made? I felt the carriage come to a halt, and I moved to get out of the carriage. I stepped down slowly, making sure that my dress and cloak didn't get snagged on the carriage steps. Before I started to walk into the cemetery, I turned and looked at my driver.

"Thank you for bringing me here. Please, accept my payment," I said softly, reaching into my pocket for my satchel again. Suddenly, the driver cracked the reigns of the horses and the carriage began to pull away. I stepped back, watching it go. I turned again, and began walking into the yard of the cemetery. I slowly ran my hand along some of the statues of bells and angels, thinking about how these objects were now my father's eternal companions. I wished that I could speak with him, hold him against me, and listen to his violin playing in the soft winter air. Wishing you were somehow here again…

I moved about the cemetery before I finally reached my father's tomb, tears flooding my eyes. I wrapped my cloak around my body, moving closer to it. Something came over me, and I opened my mouth to whisper prayers to bless my father's soul. Instead, grief overtook the blessings that I had to wish to pass on and I sang for the first time, alone, in the empty cemetery. Too many years fighting back tears…why can't the past just die! Wishing you were somehow here again…know we must say goodbye. Try to forgive, teach me to live! Give me the strength to try! No more memories, no more silent tears. No more gazing across the wasted years…help me say goodbye. Help me say goodbye! I sobbed quietly, falling to the snow covered ground in front of his tomb, my eyes covered by my arm. As I cried, a small sound filled the air. The sound of a violin, playing close by, its melody gracing the cold winter air. Then, a voice followed the lead of the violin's melody, singing softly, just loud enough for me to hear.

Wandering Child, so lost, so helpless, yearning for my guidance…

I blinked, slowly raising my head to look above. There he was, the Phantom, standing above me, playing the violin and watching me as I brought myself up from the ground.

Angel or Father, Friend of Phantom? Who is it there staring?

Have you forgotten your Angel?

Angel, oh speak, what endless longings echo in this whisper?

Too long you've wandered in winter, far from my fathering gaze.

Wildly my mind beats against you…

You resist…

Yet the soul obeys!

Angel of Music, I/you denied me! Turning from true beauty! Angel of Music, my protector (do not shun me)! Come to me strange Angel!

Again, I was under his spell. I began to walk up the stairs towards him again, as he sang to me, beckoning to me with his hands. I am your Angel of Music…Come to me, Angel of Music…

There were rapid hoof beats in the distance, and someone yelling 'Christine!' but I didn't care. I reached my hands up to my teacher, aching to touch him once more. The hoof beats came to a stop, and the yells became clearer. I turned my head and saw Raoul, demounting his horse, running towards me.

"Christine, stop! It's a trap! That man, that thing, is not your father!"

I ran to Raoul, wrapping my arms around him and kissing him.

"Bravo, monsieur!" yelled the Phantom, tossing the violin down to the ground, smashing it into pieces before he jumped down from the roof. "Such spirited words! Come; let's see how far you can go now!"

There was a spark of flame as we turned to head for our horse, blocking us in. Raoul shielded me from the flames, and I started to move back towards the Phantom. "You cannot win her love by making her your prisoner!"

"I'm here, monsieur! The angel of death! Do you dare to face me?"

"Stop it! Enough!" I yelled, running away from both of them. Raoul ran after me, getting on his horse to stop me.

"Get on. I'm taking you back to the opera house."

When I nodded, he took my hand and helped me up, and we raced back to the opera house before night fell. He helped me inside and left me in my room alone. I sat on the bed, feeling so foolish for having listened to Madame Giry. I should have sensed that it was a trap, but I didn't want to believe it. I looked at my mirror, wondering what he was doing now. Was he planning to kill me? Was he planning to kill Raoul? I didn't want to think about what could happen, and what was going to happen when Don Juan premiered in two weeks. I sighed heavily, holding my head in my hands. My heart was torn between the two. I changed out of my dress and cloak, putting my nightgown and robe on, lying down for a restless night of sleep. The only thing that never left my mind was the image of the Phantom, plotting the next step of his formulated plan.